Since their rapid development and global deployment, COVID-19 vaccines have sparked widespread discussion. They have been praised by many for their role in curbing the pandemic, yet raising questions and concerns in some circles regarding their novel mechanisms, ingredients, and long-term safety. This article explores the nature of COVID-19 vaccines, reviews their primary ingredients, and examines some of the platform-related issues that have emerged, such as their delivery system. Whether you’re seeking clarity on what these vaccines contain, how they function at a cellular level, or the implications of using such cutting-edge biotechnology on a global scale, this deep dive offers an informed, critical look at the science and the surrounding conversations.
The first thing to understand is that these shots are not vaccines per se. As you learned in Vaccines: Ingredients, Vaccine Schedule, & Liability, vaccines contain an inactive virus or protein that is administered to stimulate a person’s immune system and produce immunity to a specific disease.
Unlike traditional vaccines, some of the most prominent COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA technology, a platform that introduces genetic instructions into the body. Because of this mechanism, these vaccines are categorized by regulatory agencies as gene therapy products. These gene-modification products trick the body [with mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) or adenoviral DNA (J&J, AstraZeneca)] into making SARS-CoV-2 proteins in an uncontrolled manner, provoking an antibody reaction.
COVID-19 “Vaccine” Ingredients
COVID-19 vaccines contain active components like messenger RNA (in the case of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) or adenoviral vectors (as in Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca), along with other ingredients such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), cholesterol, PEGs, and more.
Let’s look into the ingredients:
- Spike Protein: SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (S proteins) were developed at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which weren’t previously found in nature. These spike proteins attach to the ACE-2 receptors in the body. S proteins don’t decay after inoculation and have a toxic effect. The spike protein circulates in the blood for as long as 15 months. It keeps activating regulatory T cells, decreasing cellular immunity.
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG): PEGylated lipids enhance stability, prolong circulation time, and facilitate cellular uptake. PEGs can have a negative impact on the body due to potential inflammatory responses, bioaccumulation, and severe allergic immune responses. A study on 64,900 medical employees found that 2.1% of subjects reported acute allergic reactions following mRNA vaccination.
- Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs): This form of nanotechnology encapsulates and protects the fragile mRNA and delivers it into cells. LNPs act as both delivery vehicles and stabilizers, composed of synthetic lipids like ALC-0315, ALC-0159 (in Pfizer), or SM-102 (in Moderna). A problem with LNPs is that they keep circulating throughout the body and accumulate in various areas rich in lipoprotein receptors. The fastest and highest accumulation is observed in the liver and the spleen. Uptake into the adrenal glands and reproductive organs follows. LNPs have also been detected in the brain. Antibodies generated in those locations can damage cells and tissues, as well as vascular endothelial cells in the bloodstream. LNPs have also been shown to exacerbate inflammation in the body. In addition, research shows that LNPs create changes in the spleen and circulatory system (white blood cell counts, lymphocytes, and coagulation).
- Nanotechnology: Independent analyses, some conducted by scientists and medical professionals outside of institutional networks, have reported observing complex, self-assembling nanotechnologies and electromagnetic nanotech under microscopic examination.
- Venom Peptides: Researchers have also found venom peptides and other components derived from snake venom or other animal venoms.
COVID-19 “Vaccine” Platform Issues
Gene therapy has long promised to revolutionize medicine by correcting genetic defects at their source, but its history is marked by repeated setbacks, safety concerns, and limited clinical success. For over a decade, particularly from the late 1990s through the 2010s, many gene therapy trials failed to produce lasting therapeutic outcomes, and some resulted in severe adverse effects, including immune reactions, unintended genetic changes, and even deaths. High-profile cases, such as the tragic death of Jesse Gelsinger in 1999 during an experimental gene therapy trial, underscored the risks of delivering genetic material into the body.
Despite significant funding and optimism, most early gene therapy products struggled to achieve regulatory approval or commercial viability due to challenges with vector delivery, off-target effects, immune complications, and insufficient long-term efficacy. Only due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, gene therapy began to regain cautious momentum, though its safety profile and broad application remain subjects of intense scientific and ethical scrutiny.
Some of the platform-related issues that have emerged include stability, delivery systems, and post-marketing safety monitoring
- Safety Risks: Research shows that the platform itself, mRNA technology, is an etiological agent of adverse events. There are added harms due to foreign RNA, which triggers an inflammatory response and can act as a pro-coagulant. Previous studies using LNP–mRNA as protein replacement therapy lacked safety data, demonstrated liver toxicity, and showed the development of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) that can deactivate the drug. Additionally, the rate of serious adverse events is 14% to 17%.
- Biodistribution: Unlike traditional vaccines, these leave the site of vaccination. The proteins enter the bloodstream, circulate throughout the body, and accumulate in several tissues and organs. They cross the blood-brain barrier and can affect the brain, neurological, and cardiovascular systems. Additionally, lipid nanoparticles containing the mRNA “vaccines” are transferred to infants through breast milk, and babies have died from it.
- Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE): ADE is when new antibodies created by the shot don’t allow neutralizing antibodies to fight infection and foreign pathogens. Consequently, the body can’t defend itself against additional variant strains. Previous studies of mRNA technology resulted in failed vaccine trials due to antibody-dependent enhancement and damage to the immune system.
As you can see, COVID-19 shots should be addressed cautiously. A huge area of concern is their novelty – these mRNA shots were developed in a few months. Plus, the preclinical evaluation phase (animal trials) was skipped and these shots were authorized by the FDA for emergency use. Learn more about their safety and effectiveness, details gathered from lawsuits detailing documents given to the FDA by Pfizer and Moderna, and adverse events of the COVID-19 “Vaccine”.
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